When I was a student at St.
Mary's, I took one of your meditation
workshops. It was my first experience
with meditation. I was student
teaching at the time, and it
was absolutely amazing how much
that workshop transformed my
teaching experience. I began
to meditate every day, and my
teaching changed completely.
Before I had been nervous and
stressed, with little control
of my classes. Once I started
to meditate, I conquered my nervousness
and taught the classes with calm
and confidence. What a difference!
It was as if I had a new set
of students. So I would like
to thank you for giving that
workshop!

by J.A. Gray
"If you tell Brother Camillus that he's great," says Raquel Cagigas, "he shakes his head and says 'God is great.' His surrender to God is inspiring."

He especially reaches
out to the Hispanic and other
minority students as soon as they
arrive at Saint Mary's. He really
wants you to stick with it even
when it's difficult." Raquel,
a senior majoring in psychology
and religious studies, plans
to be a teacher and counselor.

Another
psychology major, Gerardo Gomez,
credits Brother Camillus with
helping him succeed as a student. "Freshman
year was a struggle; I was so
stressed over papers, worried
about each deadline. Brother Camillus
said, 'Maybe you should take my
class in meditation.' I did, and
it changed my focus from 'when
the paper was due' to 'what I
wanted to say.' Now I never start
writing without meditating for
ten minutes. Being relaxed and
patient will be good for me in
my profession as a child psychologist." He
chuckles. "It
doesn't hurt in living with college
roommates, either."
Brother Camillus Chavez, who
has taught at Saint Mary's College
since 1975, has nearly as many
letters after his name as in
it: F.S.C., B.A. (philosophy),
M.A. (Spanish and Latin-American
literature), M.A. (theology),
Ph.D. (clinical and social psychology).
He is also a certified hypnotherapist. "I
got into psychology because I found philosophy
was too abstract: I wanted to know experientially
the workings of the human soul. I've taught
clinical and social psychology, but in
the past ten years or so I've moved into
teaching courses that approach psychological
material from a spiritual perspective,
because I've found that psychological problems
often indicate a need to move forward in
one's spiritual development."

Brother Camillus offers courses on prayer and meditation, as well as open meditation sessions. He has a reputation for being gregarious ("He goes up to people, shakes their hands, learns their names, asks them to come and meditate; he's incredibly welcoming," says one student). But Brother Camillus is not just being sociable; he is consciously practicing the Lasallian teacher's virtues of Vigilance, Gentleness, and Prudence. "Students are stressed and confused," he says. "They're driven by our culture, by consumerism, by high-tech gizmos. They get drawn away from the Spirit and can get lost." It is Brother Camillus' purpose to introduce them to their own interior life. "Even just a five-minute meditation can recall us to the fact that we are in the presence of a God who loves us with an overwhelming love. This is the Christian and specifically Lasallian heritage - in the Rule of the Brothers the most important exercise of the day is interior prayer - but unless we connect the students to it, they won't know it's their heritage, too. I also think it's important now for the Brothers to reach out to the Partners, to share with them that wealth, that charism, of interior prayer."

James Alan Temple, Professor of Psychology, says Brother Camillus is "professionally, that rarest of people - an expert in psychology who is an applied humanistic psychologist. And personally he is a powerful presence in every way -- intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually." Father Sal Ragusa, the Director of Campus Ministry, calls Brother Camillus "a gift to the whole campus community, with his constant message that 'we can't limit God'". Maryanne Bisson, a senior with a double major in math and religious studies who is taking his class on prayer and meditation, describes him simply as "indescribable."

Brother Camillus confides that "my secret fantasy -- and put this in the article -- is that every Christian Brothers' high school will have courses in meditation so that students can learn the habit of going deep within themselves, where they will encounter a reflection of the image of God." He says, "A crucial part of Lasallian education is touching students' hearts."

When the list of the Twelve Virtues is read aloud to him, he emits a happy sigh at the mention of the one called Wisdom: "Ah, Wisdom. The greatest virtue. Not one attained, mind you, but one that I am working toward. Wisdom is the highest of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and my hope and desire is to plant within my students the seeds of Wisdom."

Brother Camillus received the Saint John Baptist de La Salle Award in 2000 from the Saint Mary's College Alumni Association, the highest award given by the Alumni/ae to a faculty member who has evidenced concern for students, availablity to them beyond the classroom, and commitment to professional excellence.